Pin setting machine



Aug. 15, 1950 F; w. FRETTER PIN SETTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug; 9', 1944 Aug. 15, 1950 F. w; FRETTER PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 1O Sheets-Shegt 2 I N V EN TOR.

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PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 IIIAW I Kw I I Aug. 15, 1950 F. w. FRETTER 2,518,457

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIE 5- Aug. 15, 1950 Filed Aug. 9, 1944 F. w. FRETTER 2,518,457

PIN SETTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Aug. 15, 1950 F. w. FRETTER 2,518,457

- PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 I 1o Sheets-Sheet 10 Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE PIN SE'ITllVG MACHINE Fred W. Fretter, Detroit, Mich. Application August 9, 1944, Serial No. 54am:

10 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a pin setting machine for a bowling alley and is more particularly concerned'with a pin setting machinewhich lends.

itself very readily to automatic operation.

It is the object of this invention to produce a pin setting machine for a bowling alley which is relatively simple in structure, efhcient in operation and which will handle the pins expeditiously according to the requirements of the game.

The invention also contemplates a pin setting mechanism which is admirably adapted for automatic control and operation under all the various conditions arising during play.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in longitudinal section of my bowling Din set-up mechanism showing the pins in position ready for play.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly'in longitudinal section showing my pin set-up mechanism after the balls have been played and in the operation of setting up the pins.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along the line 4--4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section along the line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 'l is a section along the line '|-'l of Fig. 5. Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are details of the mechanism for setting the pin top-end up in the pin setup mechanism; Fig. 9 being a section along the line 5-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 being a view along the line ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

' Fig. '12 is a sectional detail showing the pin setup mechanism setting the pin upright on the bowling alley.

Fig. 13 is a section along the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12. j

Fig. 14 is a. section along the line |4l4 of Fig. 1.

' Fig2.

Fig. 18 is a detail showing the pin in full lines about to leave the distributor belt top foremost,

and in the dotted lines showing the pin tumbling.

down the inclined track and being turned bottom end first.

Fig. 19 is a detail showing the pin at the bottom of an inclined track after the weight of the pin has closed the door barring exit of any other pin from the distributor belt down the same track.

Fig. 20 is a perspective of the sprocket and chain propelled conveyor belt.

Fig. 21 is a top plan view showing the agitator arranging the pins for entry into the pockets of the distributor.

Fig. 22 is a detail section showing the pins being acted upon by the agitator fingers as they slide down the inclined platform preparatoryto entering the distributor pockets.

Fig. 23'is a detail showing a modified form of means for automatically locking the pin in the pin setter.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown a conventional bowling alley I, a stationary pit 2 at the end thereof. a back cushion or stop 3, the conventional inclined return chute or groove 4 along which the ball returns back to the player, and the usual ten bowling pins 5 in position for play, Fig. 1.

The pin set-up mechanism is mounted upon a stationary frame comprising twoelevated horizontal tracks 6 supported upon a vertical posts I. The pin set-up mechanism can be divided into four component mechanisms; namely, a pin ele vator, a pin distributor, a pin-set-up rack, and a pin sweeper.

Pin elevator The pin elevatorcomprises a box 8 which is arranged to be lowered into the ball pit 2, Fig. 1. The box 8 comprises a rear wall 9, two side walls i0, and a bottom wall II which is pivoted on a transverse shaft l2. The opposite ends of the shaft [2 slidably engage the side walls ill with a lost motion connection in slots 13. In its lowered position the floor ll rests on the spring stops N which are fixed to the bottom of pit 2. The floor. ll comprises a plurality of spaced slats i5 extending transversely of box 8, the top face of the front slat i5a being inclined downwardly toward the rear of the box.

Box 8 has its upper end traversed by a plurality of parallel bars I6 which run transversely of'alley I and are secured at their opposite ends to the top of the side walls I0 of the box. Bars ilare spaced one behind the other a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the body of a standard bowling pin. Transverse bars I5 of floor ll fit in between the bars It so that the bars l5 and i6 cooperate in lowered position to form a solid floor (yieldably supported by spring stops i4) upon. which the ball falls as it rolls of! the rear bottom of laterally opposed slots l3 in side walls 5 I0 whereupon bottom tilts downwardly andrearwardly against stops I8 on side walls I9 and then travels upwardly with box 8. Shaft I2 is positioned forwardly of the middle of floor II so that the portion of floor II to the rear of shaft I2 10 is heavier than that in front of the shaft I2 so that fioor normally tilts rearwardly and downwardly as indicated. A spring can also be used for biasing or tilting floor I I to this position. The

side walls of pit 2 are designated I9 and at one end of the pit the wall I9 extends upwardly so that the top edge 26 is flush with the ball return chute 4, Fig. 15. Thus, sidewalls I9 serve as a guide for the elevator box 8. Back bars I 6 are inclined downwardly toward return chute 4 so that go the bowling ball will roll by gravity off of rack I6 into. return chute 4 as soon as the rack I6 is 81..- vated to a position flush with the upper end of side wall I9, Fig. 15.

The mechanism for raising and lowering elevag5 tor 8 comprises a carriage 2| supported upon wheels 22 which travel back and forth in trackways 6, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A gear rack 23 is fixed lengthwise along one edge of the carriage 2|.

4 The Geneva movement is conventional and comprises a disk I22 fixed on drive shaft 49 and provided with a pin I23 which engages one fork I24 of the wheel I25 mounted upon shaft I26 per revolution of disc I 22. Thus, forked wheel I25 is rotatedone quarter revolution for each revolution of disc I22. Gear I21 is fixed on the same shaft as wheel I25 and meshes with gear I28 which drives the shaft carrying the'driving sprockets for the chain and sprocket conveyor drive. For each revolution of disc I22, wheel I25 is moved one-quarter turn so that wheel I25 is stationary for three-quarters'of each revolution of disc I22.. During this dwell the outlet openings 58 ofpockets 43 are accurately aligned with the openings 59 in wall 41.

The conveyor belt has fixed thereon a plurality of open ended pockets 43'. The open ended pockets can be made from sheet metal or fiber board and are fixed to the belt 4| along their line of contact therewith as at 44. Thepulleys 42 are mounted upon shafts which are journalled at their forward end in bearings 46 carried in the upright forward wall 41. Left hand pulley 42, Fig. 5, is driven by electric motor 48, shaft 49, and a conventional Geneva movement 56 so that the movement of conveyor belt 4| is intermittent, Figs. 5 and '7. Pockets 43 have their inlet openings fiared outwardly as at5I.

A shaft 24 is journalled at its opposite ends in '0 Referring to Fig. 14 it will be seen that there upright brackets 25 fixed to the stationary track members 8. Drums 26 are fixed at opposite ends of shaft 24. Shaft 24 has fixed thereto a gear 21 (Fig. 3) which meshes with gear rack 23.

Cables II are arranged to be wound up on drums at 28 and have their opposite ends secured to the box 8. Cables II run over idler pulleys 28 mounted upon brackets I29 fixed to tracks 6 and also over idler pulleys 29 and 39 which are rotatably supported upon arms 3| pivotally sup- 0 The carriage 2| is arranged be moved for- 45 wardly to the dotted line position, Fig. 1, and returned to the full line position, Fig. l, by a screw 35 driven by electric motor 38. Screw 35 has a driving threaded fit in nut 31 fixed to carriage 2|.

' are sixteen pockets 43 mounted in' spaced relation about conveyor 'belt 4|. The number of pockets 43 is optional but should, of course, preferably be greater than ten, the standard number of pins used in bowling. The bottoms of pockets 43 on the lower half of conveyor belt 4| are flush with floor 39 of the distributor so that the pins can freely slide down floor 39 and into pockets 43 as the pockets travel with the conveyor belt. It is immaterial whether the pins go into the pockets bottom end first or top end first.

To facilitate aligning the pins with the pockets 43 as they travel along the forward lower end of platform 39, anagitator is provided. The agitator comprises a shaft 52 journalled in bearings 53 mounted on the underside of platform '39. Shaft 52 is also driven by electric motor 48 by suitable gearing 54 and stub shaft 55. The

A5 elevator 8 moves upwardly t front edge distributor plat-form 39 is provided with a plu- 38 of floor II strikes the rear portion of dis-- tributor platform 39 so that in its uppermost position the fioor is tilted forwardly and downwardly, Fig. 2, thus causing the pins'5 to roll from floor II on to distributor floor 39. The front I Pin distributor The distributor comprises a bottom fioor 39 inclined forwardly and downwardly, side walls 40, and an endless conveyor belt 4| running about pulleys 42, Fig. 14. The' conveyor pulleys 42 u are connected together by a chain and sprocket drive'so that the driving of the conveyor belt 4|, on which pockets 43 are mounted, is positive. The chains are designated I20 and the rality of parallel spaced slots 56. A plurality of sets of spaced agitating fingers 51 are fixed in spider fashion on shaft 52 and are arranged to rotate with the shaft and in so doing pass through slots 58. Fingers 51 turn pins 5 so that the longitudinal axes of the pins are parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pockets 43. In other words,

diameter of the pin so that the pin will have a loose or sloppy fit in the pocket. The clearance between the pin and the walls of the pocket will sprockets I2I. The drive between motor 48 and 10 always be such that another pin cannot enter or the conveyor sprockets comprises a Geneva movement 50 which is designed so that the conveyor will move intermittently and so that the pockets 43, when the conveyor is stopped, will align themeven begin to enter the pocket which is already carryinga bowling pin.

The conveyor belt 4| andpin agitator preferably run continuously while the pin setting mechselves accurately with openings 59 in wall 41. u anism is in operation but can be shut off if deadjadownwardly to" a point adjacent its respective 8 sired during the time that the bowler is actually throwing the ball.

The wall 41 along which the outlet or forward ends 58 of pockets 43 travel is provided with ten openings 59, seven of which are placed in a lower horizontal row and three of which are positioned in an upper horizontal row, Fig. 14. These ten openings 59 are each controlled by a sliding door or 'gate 69.

Pin setter rack The ten bowling pins and their position on the alley I are shown in Fig. 4. The pin setter rack is mounted on the-same frame as the pin distributor so that the pin setting -rack mechanism and the distributor move up and down and fore and aft together as a unit. The pin setting mechanism comprises a floor 62 provided with ten openings centered perpendicularly above the points on the alley upon which pins one to ten are set when in bowling position. These ten openings are designated 63. Fig. shows these openings in vertical alignment with pins one to ten when set. FloonIiI-gis, connected by side panels 64 at the oppositefends of the pin distributor with inclined distributor floor 39 and supports-the distributing mechanism. Floor 62 is suspended at three points from carriage -2I upon screws 65 which are supported on carriage 2I- perpendicularly to the alley I. 'Screws 65 are tubular and provided with external threads. Each screw is journalled overa shaft -:66 fixed at its upper end to carriage 2I and having an enlarged head 61 at its lower end for retaining screw 65 thereon. Anti-friction bearings can be mounted between heads 61 and the lower ends of screws 65 to carry the weight of -the rack and distributor mechanisms. The-pin setter rack is provided with side walls 68 which carry bosses 69 which are internally threaded and have a screw fit with screws 65. Thus, turning of screws 65 raises and lowers the pinsetter rack and the pin distributor. The screws"65 are driven by electric motor 19 throughstub; shaft 1|, horizontal shafts 12 and 13 Y j'e'veled gearing 14, Figs. 1 and 3. Thus, sore s' 65 rotate in synchronism to cause threaded bosses 69 to move upwardly and downwardly in ison.

For each of the tenopeni'n'gs in floor 62 there is a corresponding opening 59 in wall 41 of the distributor. A chute, 15 runs from each opening 59 in wall 41 to its corresponding opening in the floor 62. Thus, chutes runmm, the three upper openings 59, Fig. 14, to the one, two, three holes in Fig. 5, and the seven openings 59 in the lower row of wall 41, Fig. 14, are connected by chutes with holes four to ten in fioor 62. All of these inclined chutes and their control mechanisrn for the pins are identical so therefore only'one' will be described.

5.; ;These inclined rails 15 extend from t theilower corners of opening 59, Fig. 14,

gized, yoke 19 and slides 18 are pulled upwardly in bracket 18 to the top of slots 11. Levers 88 are pivotally' connected by pins 84 to the lower part of bracket 16. Levers 83 are each provided with a cam opening 85. Pins 86, mounted on slides 18, project inwardly into openings 89w Levers 83 at their outer ends are connected by a yoke 81 which is fixed at its opposite ends in the ends of levers 83. Yoke 81 is provided with a V portion 88 so that it will fit around the neck of the bowling pin.

A pair of levers 89 are pivoted intermediate their ends to the rails 15 by shaft 99. The spacedlevers 89 are fixed together in spaced relation by a bar 9|. Levers 89 between shaft 99 and bar 9| are provided with V slots 92 in which yoke 81 is arranged to rest while in bowling pin re-.v ceiving position. The opposite ends of levers 89 are fixed together in spaced relation by a shaft- 93 which is arranged to engage under a pin 94 projecting forwardly from gate 69. A pair of links 95 have a fixed pivotal connection at their upper ends with yoke 19 as at 96 and have a lost motion connection with the outer ends of shaft 93 in elongated slots 91. Thus, as the solenoid elevates yoke 19, links 95 pivot levers 89 counterclockwise, Fig. 8, and simultaneously raise door or gate 69 to close the discharge opening 59 from its respective pocket 43.

As a pin 5 falls out of discharge opening-'59 from pocket 43, it slides on chute 15. If the pin is positioned bottom foremost, it simply slides down chute 15 to the dotted line position, Fig. 8, where it abuts locating stop 98 and also rests upon the forward or left-hand ends of levers 89, Figs. 8 and 11. If the pin slides out of pocket 43 top foremost, Fig. 18, then the forwardmost' portion of the pin as it slides out of pocket 43' overbalances the rearmost portion of the pin and causes the pin to rotate so that its top projects downwardly exactly as shown in the full' lines, Fig. 8, whereupon the top 99 of the pin engages under shaft 99 as it slides down chute 15 thereby turning pin 5 over so that the bottommost portion is now foremost and the pin' comes to rest in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8.

When solenoid 82 is energized, yoke 19 is raised thereby elevating slides 18 in slots 11- which causes pins 86 to move upwardly. As pins 86 move upwardly, they slidably engage the upper edges I99 of openings 85-which'serve as cams. As pins 86 rise, they coact with cam edges I99 of levers 83 to rotate the levers counterclockwise, Fig. 8, whereupon yoke 81 contacts the neck portion I9I of the pin and moves the pin toward vertical or upright position. As the pin moves from the dotted line position, Fig. 8, to the'up-- right position, it passes bottom foremost through openin 63 in floor 62 but yoke 81 is positioned around the neckportion I9I between the body portion I92 and the head portion 99 of the pin and yoke 81 thereby coacts with the abutment I93 (which is the upper portion of the rear face of stop 98) to grip and lock the pin in vertical position in the opening 63, as shown in Fig. 12. Since the size of head 99 of a' pin 5'is greater than the clearance between yoke 81- and abutment I93, the pin cannot fail downwardly. Further, as yoke 19 is elevated by the solenoid, links are swun upwardly so that shaft 93 engages beneath pin 94 and raises door 69 to close opening 59 so that another pin cannot slide down the pin chute 15 leading to an opening 63 which has already received its bowling pin.

One end of each opening 85, the uppermost end when levers 83 are in raised or pin locking position, Figure 12, terminates in a locking notch I04 so that the weight of the bowling pin 5 cannot rotate levers 83 clockwise to release the pin. In other words, pins 86 on slides I8 engage in notches I04 so that the bowling pin itself cannot reverse or unlock yoke 81. The upper sides of notches I04 engage pins 86 'such that levers 83 can only be released by a downward movement of slides I8 and pins 86, which movement is controlled by solenoid 82 and yoke I9. When solenoid 82 is deenergized, then core 8I, rod 80 and yoke I9 move downwardly by the force of gravity thereby moving slides I8 and pins 86 downwardly which in turn rotate levers 83 clockwise to thereby release the bowling pin held between yoke 81 and the stop I03. If desired, the downward motion of plunger 80 can be assisted by a spring. I,

The pin sweeper The sweeping mechanism comprises a sweeper I05 pivotally mounted upon the ends of parallel bell crank levers I06. Levers I06 are pivoted to sliding blocks lit by pins I01. Blocks 4 are arranged to slide fore and aft in the parallel tracks I I5. The forward motion of sliding blocks Ill is arrested by stops II6. Thus, when blocks Ill abut stops I I6, nuts IIO continue to travel forwardly on screws I08 and thereby rotate sweeper arms I06 counterclockwise to raise-the sweeper I05. n the reverse or'sweeping action, nuts 0 travel rearwardly thereby first causing arms I06 to rotate clockwise and thereby lower sweeper I to the dotted line position, Fig. 1. Further rotation of screws I08 causes blocks Ill to travel rearwardly in tracks II 5 simultaneously with the rearward travel of nuts IIO thereby sweeping the pins off the rear'most end of alley I and out of the gutters into the elevator 8. Reverse rotation of screws I08 causes the sweeper to'move forwardly along alley I and when blocks IN abut stops II6 the sweeper is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Levers I06 are raised and lowered by screws I08 driven by an electric motor I09. Internally threaded nuts I I0 on screws I08 are provided with pins I II which engage bell crank levers I06 in elongated slots I I2 to raise and lower the sweeper. The screws I08 are rotated in synchronism. The drive of the right hand screw I08, as viewed from .the bowlers position, is accomplished by a chain and sprocket drive II3 from left hand screw shaft I08.

The operation of my bowling pin handling apparatus is as follows: As shown in Fig. 1, the ten bowling pins 5 are in their playing position. The pin setter rack and distributor are raised and in rearward position. The bowler throws the first ball. If the bowler does not make a strike so that some of the pins are left standing, then the circuit to motor is closed so that the motor I0, driving through gears II, shafts I2 and I3, and screws 65, lowers the pin setter to its lowermost position, Fig. 12. As the pin setter lowers, openings 63 will pass downwardly about the, pins that were left standing. As the pin setter rack reaches its lowermost position, the tops of the pins that were left standing will abut against spring con- "tact I30 and thereby close contacts I3I which in turn closes the electrical circuit to the solenoid 82 above each particular pin. As the solenoid 82 is energized. it draws core 8| and yoke I9 upwardly thereby raising pins 86 which act through cam slots 85 to swing arms 83 upwardly, Fig. 12, to thereby lock this pin between yoke 81 and stop 35 initial position, Fig. 1.

I03. Each of the pins which have been left stand ing will be locked in the pin setter rack by this same operation. The solenoids 82 remain energized and the circuit to motor I0 is now reversed 5 so that motor I0 reverses its direction of rotation and raises the pin setting rack to the position shown in Fig. 1. ---'I-he pin setter rack as it rises carries with it those pin'swhich were left standing afterthe first ball was rolled. The cir- 10 cuit to motor I08 is now closed so that the sweeper moves downwardly on to the alley I, then travels toward the pit sweeping the fallen pins off of the alley I and out of the gutters I32 along side the alley I, and thence into the'elevator 8 which lsnow in lowered position in the pit 2. At

the end of the backward sweeping motion of the sweeper I05, motor I08 reverses its rotation and thereby moves the sweeper forward and elevates the same again to the position shown in Fig. 1.

At this time motor I0 is again set in operation to lower the pin setter rack which again brings the pins that were left standing after the first ball to their initial position on the alley I. As the pin setting rack reaches its lowered position,

the circuits to all the solenoids 82 are broken,

as by a manual switch (not shown) so that core 8i and yoke I9 move downwardly either by gravity or by the expansion of a compression spring which backs up core 8|. As yoke I9 moves downwardly, pins 86 move out of notches I04 and switch for reversingthe same at the end of the rearward travel of the sweeper.

The bowler now rolls his second ball and whether he knocks down all of the remaining pins is immaterial because motor I09 is again set in operation to sweep the remaining pins from the alley and gutters into the elevator 8 and the sweeper is then retracted to the position shown in Fig. 1. The pins as they are swept into the elevator 8 fall on to the rack I6 and the pivoted slats I5 which cooperate to present a substantially solid floor. The ball likewise falls into the elevator either directly from the rear end of the alley I or after striking the back cushion 3. Since slats I5 and rack I6 form a spring supported floor, no injury is done either to the rack I6 or to the ball. Motor 36 is now set in opera- 1 tion 50 that screw 35 acts through nut 31 to draw carriage 2I, the raised pin setter rack and distributor forwardly or to the left, Fig. 1. As the 0 carriage 2I moves forwardly, gear'rack 23 rotates drums 26 so that cables I I wind up on drums 26 and thereby raise elevator 8. However, as the cables I! are drawn upwardly the box 8 and rack I6 move upwardly with cables I! 65.but floor II- remains on stops I4 until shaft I2 reaches the bottoms of slots I3 in the side walls of box 8. As rack I6 moves away from floor II, pins 5 fall through the transverse slots between bars I6 whereas the ball remains on to of the bars I6, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. As soon as shaft I2 reaches the bottoms of slots I3, floor II tilts rearwardly and downwardly upon stops I8 carried by sides I0 and then moves upwardly with the box 8. Upon reaching the height of the return chute or track I, Fig. 16, the ball rolls 01f 9 bars I8, which are inclined downwardly toward the return chute 4, which returns the ball to the player in a conventional manner. Finally the elevator reaches its topmost position. whereby the forward end 38 of floor II strikes the rear most edge of floor 39 on the distributor thereby tilting floor II forwardly and downwardly. It should be remembered that as the elevator 8 rises, the pin setter rack and distributor are moved forwardly so that the distributor will move clear of the elevator. This position is shown in Fig. 2. Motor 36-is now shut off. The pins slide from inclined floor II on to the distributor floor 39 where they are agitated by the rotary agitator 52 and aligned with the pockets 43 which are being moved with a step by step or intermittent motion by motor 48 and Geneva movement 50. Each pin finds a pocket 43 in the distributor and is carried about by this pocket until it reaches an opening 59 in the forward wall 41 of the distributor which is open, that is, one wherein the door 60 is lowered indicating that the opening 83 in the pin setter floor at the opposite end of chute I5'leading from such opening 59 is free to receive a pin to be set preparatory to setting the pin in the position on the alley corresponding to such unoccupied opening 63 in, the pin setter rack floor 62. As the pin tumbles out of opening 58 on to the inclined rack 15, it is inverted or turned over so that its body I02 is positioned forward of its top 99, dotted line showing Fig. 8. I

After the pins are distributed by the distributing pockets 43 and chutes .15 to the position over their respective openings 63 in the floor of the pin setter rack 92, as indicated in the dotted line showing Fig. 8, solenoids 82 are energized by a manual switch (not shown) thereby raising yokes I9 which act through slides I8, pins 83 and cam slots 85 to elevate levers 83 and raise the pins to vertical position with a yoke 81 surrounding the neck IOI of each pin and coacting with stop I03 to lock the same in upright position in opening 83, as shown in Fig.,12. The pin setter rack is returned to its rearward position by operating motor 35 and motor I0 is then set in operation to lower the pin setter rack and pins to their respective positions on the alley. After the pins are set upon the alley, solenoids 82 are deenergized which causes yokes l9 and associated parts 9 to release the locking yokes 81 from the pins. Motor I0 is now reversed and the pin rack raised whereupon the pins are in set position ready for play.

As the pin rolls down its respective chute 15, it rests upon the forward end of levers 89 thereby tilting the same counterclockwise, Figs. ,8 and 19,

and elevating the door 50 to closed position,

thereby preventing another pin from being fed down this same chute I5. Slots 9! in arms 85 permit shaft 93 to move upwardly as door 60 is elevated by the weight of the pin. When solenoid 82 elevates yoke 19, then links 95 also act to elevate door 60 to close opening 59 during the resetting of pins such as when all the pins are not knocked down by the first ball rolled.

It is understood, of course, that the pin setter rack is always, in the rearmost position during the setting of the pins and is moved forwardly only when the pins and ball are being elevated from pit 2 by means of elevator 8 on to the distributor floor 39 and return chute 4, respectively. After the pins are elevated on to the distributor floor, the pin setter rack and distributor are moved to rearmost position by motor 86 and screws 35.

each of the component parts of this pin setting mechanism can be either independently or automatically controlled. Preferably the drive for each of these mechanisms is an electrical drive. Ifthe mechanisms are independently controlled, then a separate circuit will be provided for the pin sweeper motor I09, the carriage motor 38, the pin setter rack elevating and lowering motor 10, the solenoids 82, and the distributor motor 48. In such case the circuits to these motors and solenoids will be controlled by independent switches operated in accordance with the demands of the game, that is, if the ball is thrown into the gutter and none of the pins is struck down, then motor it alone will be set in operation to elevate the ball into the return chute 4. This will entail moving carriage 2| forwardly and then backwardly to raise and lower the ball elevator 8. If a strike is not rolled, then motor I0 will first be set in operation to lower the pin setter rack 62 to pick up the pins that were not knocked down and after the pin setter 82 has been elevated with the pins which were not knocked down, motor I09 will be set in motion to sweep from the alley and gutters the pins which were knocked down. Motor 48 for the distributor can be run continuously if desired. After the alley has been swept, then motor I0 will be reversed to lower the pins which were not knocked down by the first ball rolled to their original position and pin setter rack 32 again raised whereupon the second ball can be thrown.

In the case of a strike, or after two balls have been thrown, then sweeper motor I09 isset in operationto sweep the alley and gutters clear and deposit the pins in the elevator 8. the sweeper has completed its sweeping and return cycle, then motor 36 is set in operation to elevate the pins on to the inclined distributor platform 39 and to return the ball via return chute 4. After the pins have been deposited on distributor floor 39, motor 38 is reversed to return carriage 2| and the pin setter rack and distributor which carriage 2I supports, to their rearmost position. After the pins have been fed onto the pin setter rack 62, solenoids 82 are actuated to raise yokes 19 and position the pins in vertical position in their/ openings 63 with the bottoms ofthe pins down and the necks of the pins locked between yokes 81 and stops I03. While the carriage 2I is in its rearmost position, motor I0 is set in operation to lower the pin rack 62 down, solenoids 82 are deenergizedtorelease the pins in their respective playing positions on the alley, motor 10 is reversed'to elevate pin setter rack 62 and the pins are now ready for play. 7 The circuits and switches for each of the several electric driving motors and solenoids are not shown.

As used herein the front of the bowling alley means the portion of the alley from which the ball is thrown and the rear of the bowling alley is the part of the bowling alley toward which the ball rolls and where the pins are positioned.

The modified form of pin setting device shown in Fig. 23 differs from the principal form described above only in that solenoid 82 is not depended upon for elevating yoke 19 when the pin setter is lowered toplck up pins not knocked down with the first ball. When the pin setter is lowered to pick up a pin, the pin gripping mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 8. As the open- After l1 tively to floor 82 as the door 62 continues to be lowered. Actually, the head-99 of the pin arrests further lowering movement of yoke 19. Thus, as the pin-setter floor 82 and associated mechanism continues to lower, the arrested movement of yoke 19 acts through slides 18, pins 88, cam openings 85 to tilt levers 83 upwardly, Fig. 8, which brings yoke 81 up into contact with the neck IOI of the pin to thereby lock the same between yoke 81 and abutment I83. This brings pins 86 into locking notches I84 so that the standing pin will now be elevated when the pin setter is again raised preparatory to sweeping the knocked down pins from the alley. Upon lowering the pin setter to reset the pins previously left standing, the yoke 19 can be lowered manually or mechanically or by reversing the flow of current in solenoid 82 to thereby repel or move core 8| outwardly of the solenoid and lower yoke 18 which will release the pin. The pin will be released by this action since even a slight downward movement of yoke 19 produces a corresponding downward tilting of levers 83 and yoke 81 which in turn permits ,the yoke I9 to travel progressively further in a downward direction. In

. such case core 8| would have a wire winding the same as the solenoid coil with a direct current flowing therethrough. Reversing the current in the solenoid winding would change the polarity of the solenoid coil and repel the core.

I claim:

1. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a rack for setting the pins upon the alley in bowling position, releasable pin holders on said rack for holding the pins while setting the same in position and for releasing the same after being set, a hopper into which the pins are deposited, and a distributor for distributing the pins from the hopper to the pin holders preparatory to being set, the distributor comprising a plurality of pin receiving pockets traveling along an endless path, the said pockets extending generally in a direction from the hopper to the rack,

said distributor arranged to receive a plurality of pins from said hopper simultaneously, means for delivering the pins from said pockets to the pin holders, and means efiective whenever a pin is held in one of said pin .holders for rendering the pin distributor ineffective, to deliver another pin to said occupied pin holder.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hopper, and the pin receiving pockets of said distributor are inclined downwardly toward said pin holding device and wherein said pin delivering means comprise chutes inclined downwardly from said pockets to said pin holders whereby the pins are delivered by gravity from the hopper into the said pockets and thence 'j down said chutes to the pin holders.

3. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a. rack for setting the pins upon the alley in bowling position, releasable pin holders on said rack for holding the pins while setting the same in position and for releasing the same after being set, a hopper into which the pins are deposited, and a distributor for distributing the pins from the hopper to the pin holders preparatory to being set, the distributor. comprising a carrier and a plurality of pin receiving pockets mounted on said carrier and adapted to bodily carry the pins along an endless path, the said pockets extending generally in a direction from the hopper to the rack, said distributor arranged to receive a plurality of pins from said hopper simultaneously, means forming chutes for delivering the pins from said pockets to the pin holders,

-12 means efiective whenever a pin is held in one of said pin holders for rendering the pin distributor ineffective to deliver another pin to said occupied pin holder, the hopper and the pin receiving pockets of said distributor being inclined downwardly toward said, chutes and said chutes being inclined downwardly toward said pin holders whereby the pins are delivered by gravity from the hopper into the said pockets .and. thence through said chutes to the pin holders, and means for driving said carrier with a step by step movement so as to momentarily position said pockets in alignment with said chutes as the pockets travel along said endless path.

4. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, the combination of a pin setter rack including openings for a set of bowling pins, 9. pin holder for releasably holding a pin in each of said openings, a wall positioned at an angle to the 'plane of said rack and having a plurality of openings therein positioned above the plane of the rack, gates for closing each of said openings, inclined tracks leading upwardly from each of the openings in the rack to a corresponding opening in the wall, and means for distributing pins through the openings in said wall and on to the inclined tracks comprising a plurality of pockets traveling about an endless path, each pocket having an inlet and an outlet, the outlets of said pockets being horizontally aligned so as to register with the openings in said wall, the said pins being discharged from the pockets whenever the outlet of a pocket coincides with an opening in said wall not closed by said gates, and means effective to close the gate at each of the openings in said wall selectively whenever a pin is held by the pin holder corresponding to said gate and opemng.

5.. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, the combination of a pin setter rack including openings for a set of bowling pins, a pin holder for releasably holding a pin in each of said openings, a wall positioned at an angle to the plane of said rack and having a plurality of openings therein positioned above the plane of the rack, gates for closing eachof said openings, inclined tracks leading from each of the openings in the rack upwardly to a corresponding opening in the wall, and means for distributing pins through the openings in said wall and on to the inclined tracks comprising a plurality of pockets traveling about an endless path, each pocket having an inlet and an outlet, the said pins being discharged from the pockets by gravity whenever the outlet of a pocket coincides with an opening in said wall not closed by one of said gates, an endless conveyor upon which said pockets are mounted so that they are inclined downwardly from the inlet to the outlet end, the outlet ends being horizontally aligned with the openings in said wall, and means for actuating said conveyor with an intermittent motion such that the outlet ends of the pockets coincide with the openings in said wall when the conveyor is not in motion, and means operative to close each gate selectively when a pin is held in the pin holder corresponding to said gate.

6. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, the combination of a rack for setting pins upon the alley in bowling position, releasable pin holders on said rack for holding the pins while settingthe same, a hopper into which a plurality of pins aredeposited, a distributor for distributing the pins to said pin holders, the distributor comprising a plurality of pin receiving pockets traveling in an endless path adjacent the outlet .said distributor and thence down said inclined tracks to said pin holders by means of gravity.

7. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley,

" the combination of a pin setter rack, releasable Y pin holders on said rack for holding the pins while setting the same, a wall positioned at an angle to the plane of said rack and havinga plurality of openings therein positioned above the plane of said rack, an inclined track leading from each of said openings in said wall to a corresponding pin holder on said rack, means for distributing a plurality of pins through said openings onto said tracks comprising a plurality oi pockets traveling along an endless path and adapted to register with said openings, means on said tracks for directing pins to said pin holders bottom-end foremost whereby the pins may be discharged from said distributor onto said track with either the head or bottom end foremost and means efl'ective when a pin is held in one of said pin holders for rendering said distributing means ineffective to deliver another pin to said occupied pin .holder.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the openings'in said wall lie in at least two vertically spaced planes and said pockets are arranged so as to bodily carry said pins around said endless path and thereby coincide with each set of said openings.

9. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, an inclined hopper adapted to'receive a plurality oi bowling pins, a conveyor belt, a plurality of pockets mounted on said conveyor belt so that in the course of their travel they pass along the outlet side of said hopper, the outlet opening of said hopper extending across a" plurality oi said pockets, each of said pockets being of a size suilicient to receive only one bowling pin, a wall adjacent the outlet ends of said pockets, the said wall having a plurality of openings arranged to pass the bowling pin when the outlet of a pocket coincides with an opening in said wall, and a gate for controlling each opening in said wall.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including an agitator for agitating the pins in said hopper into substantial longitudinal alignment with the pockets.

FRED W. FRE'I'I'ER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 808,067 Briggs Dec. 26, 1905 1,068,131 Holland July 22, 1913 1,111,481 Martinson Sept. 22, 1914 1,292,738 Estabrook Jan. 28, 1919 1,335,638 Barrett Mar. 30, 1920 1,468,212 Redfield Sept. 18, 1923 1,590,124 Roble June 22, 1926 1,597,974 Hedenskoog Aug. 31, 1926 1,692,796 Bishop Nov. 20, 1928 1,712,186 White May 7, 1929 1,852,870 Williams Apr. 5, 1932 2,341,475 Parra et a1. Feb. 8, 1944 2,353,189 Rundell July 11, 1944 

